Hamish Tennent
Papers
8
Total Citations
279
H-Index
7
About
Hamish Tennent is a human-robot interaction (HRI) researcher whose work sits at the intersection of social robotics, interaction design, and group dynamics. His research explores how robots shape human behavior and perception across multiple sensory and social dimensions, with particular emphasis on sound, touch, and conversational dynamics. Tennent's most influential contribution is his work on peripheral robotic objects in small-group settings. His "Micbot" study (122 citations) demonstrated that non-humanoid robots can meaningfully influence team performance and conversational dynamics, challenging the field's predominant focus on humanoid platforms. This work drew productively on psychological research to reframe how HRI thinks about group interaction. Equally distinctive is his pioneering investigation into robot sound perception. His studies on servo motor acoustics and "consequential sounds" (57 and 47 citations respectively) established frameworks for understanding how auditory cues shape user impressions of robots—an often-overlooked dimension of robot design. He has also examined cross-cultural telepresence behaviors, robotic touch interpretation through expectancy violations theory, and novel design methodologies including Wizard-of-Oz prototyping tools and expressive actuation design. His tutorial on design skills for HRI reflects a commitment to broadening methodological literacy across the research community.
Research Focus
Key Achievements
Top Papers
- 1
- 2Making Noise Intentional57 citations · 2017
- 3Good vibrations: How consequential sounds affect perception of robotic arms47 citations · 2017
- 4My Telepresence, My Culture?16 citations · 2018
- 5Using Expectancy Violations Theory to Understand Robot Touch Interpretation11 citations · 2020
- 6PAPERINO11 citations · 2018
- 7Character Actor9 citations · 2018
- 8Design skills for HRI6 citations · 2016